The days blurred together as Saejoon immersed himself in the grind of managing the Shin Group. From the moment Hana left for school each morning, he was alone, not only in the empty halls of the mansion but also within himself. The silence of his office, the absence of his family—it all weighed heavily on him. He had learned not to cry, to bury his emotions under layers of responsibility, but that didn’t mean the pain was gone. It was always there, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for a moment of weakness.

But he refused to break. For Hana, he kept moving forward, despite the heavy burden he carried.

A Day of Endless Tasks

The Shin Group was one of the largest conglomerates in the country, and its operations spanned across nearly every industry. As its new chairman, Saejoon was thrust into a whirlwind of meetings, reports, and decisions. He spent long hours reading financial statements, attending board meetings, and making calls to international partners. Every task felt monumental, but he had no choice. He had to shoulder it all, even if he didn’t understand half of what was being discussed. He was the face of the company now, and his presence was expected at every turn.

Most of the board members didn’t take him seriously at first. They saw him as a young, paralyzed heir who had inherited the position but lacked the knowledge or maturity to lead the company. They were wrong, but Saejoon didn’t care to prove them otherwise. He had no interest in appeasing their egos. He had no desire to make friends or win approval. All that mattered was Hana. Everything he did—every decision he made—was for her.

In the quiet moments between meetings, Saejoon would retreat to his private office, pouring over textbooks and business guides, teaching himself everything he could about running a multinational corporation. His body was still weak, his legs unsteady, but his mind was sharp. And his resolve was even sharper.

The Weight of Leadership

The hours passed in a blur of paperwork, phone calls, and strategy sessions. Saejoon barely noticed when the sky outside darkened, signaling the end of another long day. The stress and fatigue were beginning to take their toll, but he refused to stop. He couldn’t afford to.

It was during one of his late-night work sessions that the thought occurred to him again—the reason he was here, the reason he was forcing himself to do this.

He glanced at the framed photo on his desk, the one he had placed there shortly after the accident. It was a picture of his parents, his older sister, and Haneul—the last photograph taken before the tragedy. He hadn’t looked at it in weeks, but tonight, it felt different. Tonight, it felt like a reminder that he couldn’t afford to fail. He couldn’t afford to let his family’s legacy die with them. Not when Hana was still alive.

With a deep breath, Saejoon turned his focus back to the pile of papers in front of him. He was the chairman now. He would make sure the company thrived, even if it meant sacrificing his own peace of mind.

Late Night at the Mansion

When the clock struck ten, Saejoon made his way back to the mansion, the stillness of the house echoing around him as he entered. Hana was already asleep by the time he arrived, but he still found himself standing at her door, peering into the dark room.

He had promised himself that he wouldn’t break down, that he would keep his emotions hidden, but as he watched Hana’s small, peaceful figure curled up in bed, a wave of grief washed over him.

She was the only family he had left.

The thought of her growing up without the love and protection of their parents was almost too much to bear. Saejoon swallowed hard, biting back the tears that threatened to rise.

He had promised to be strong—for her.

The Morning Routine

The next morning, the routine resumed. Hana left for school, and Saejoon headed to the Shin Group headquarters. But this time, something was different. He had been working tirelessly for weeks, trying to prove to the world that he was capable of leading the family business. But now, he realized that it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

As he sat in his office, a meeting with the board members looming in the afternoon, Saejoon’s thoughts drifted to Hana. She was adjusting to her new life, to the world that had changed so drastically for both of them. But was she really okay? Was she happy?

He hadn’t asked her, not directly. But he could see it in the way she lingered at the door before going to school, the way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes anymore. She was trying to be brave, just like him.

But maybe, just maybe, it was time to make some changes. Not just for the company, but for Hana, too.

A Quiet Conversation

After a long day at the office, Saejoon sat at his desk, staring out the window at the city lights below. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, or if he was even looking at all. His thoughts were scattered, torn between his responsibilities as chairman and his desire to protect Hana, to keep her safe from the harsh realities of the world they now lived in.

The door to his office creaked open, and a soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Oppa?” Hana’s voice was tentative, as if she wasn’t sure whether she should enter. But Saejoon didn’t hesitate. He gestured for her to come in.

Hana entered quietly, her school uniform still neat, but her face was tired, just like his. She looked up at him with wide eyes, as though searching for something in his expression.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice small.

Saejoon didn’t answer right away. He knew the answer to that question—he wasn’t okay. But for her, he would be. He would keep going. He would keep fighting.

“I’m okay, Hana,” he said finally, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “I’m just... working.”

Hana nodded slowly, then walked over to where he sat. She looked up at him, her small hand reaching for his, her touch soft but filled with quiet concern. “I miss them,” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.

Saejoon’s heart twisted in his chest, but he didn’t let it show. He squeezed her hand gently, offering her a smile.

“I miss them too, Hana,” he said softly, “but we’ll be okay. We have each other. And that’s enough.”

She smiled faintly, but there was something in her eyes that told him she wasn’t sure. Saejoon knew that he couldn’t give her all the answers. He couldn’t make everything okay. But he would try. He would give everything he had to make sure she never felt alone.

As Saejoon watched Hana sit down next to him, drawing quietly, he felt the weight of his duties pressing down on him more than ever. The road ahead was uncertain, and the challenges were endless. But for Hana, for the legacy of his family, Saejoon was willing to face whatever came next. He would fight for them. He would fight for her.

Because in the end, that was all he had left.